Are Faculty Prima Donnas?

John C. McLucas

To the Editor:

Thank you for publishing “Class Issues Outside the Classroom” in the September–October issue of Academe. There is no excuse for uncollegial behavior among coworkers, and I believe that the AAUP should be a strong voice in favor of solidarity among all employees of colleges and universities. However, it is also important to stress that the dynamics described in the article vary greatly from one institution to another. At my university, where faculty-staff relations are generally quite harmonious, the faculty sometimes complain of feeling harried by bureaucratic requirements and controls they perceive as flowing from the administration and being implemented by staff. Some have experienced disrespectful interactions with professional staff, who at times treat faculty members as irrational prima donnas with no practical knowledge
of the “real world.”

I also am leery of identifying senior faculty members as the culprits when staff are treated rudely or condescendingly. Many senior faculty today are veteran progressives whose ideals were forged in the 1960s and who are highly sensitive to issues of social justice. When their behavior is inappropriate, of course it should be identified and corrected. However, in a society beset by ageism, I consider it more important that all members of the academic community be encouraged to honor the leadership of senior faculty.

 I value the contributors’ suggestions about strategies for increasing understanding among faculty and staff. I believe that both sides stand to learn a great deal about professionalism, courtesy, and mutual respect.

John C. McLucas
(Foreign Languages)
Towson University

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